A story in altenergymag.com last month detailed a letter urging Congress to include electric transmission provisions in any proposed infrastructure legislation and streamline expansion of U.S. electrical infrastructure.

The letter was sent to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan of Wisconsin and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California from a coalition of groups including the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), WIRES, and others representing a broad spectrum of U.S. manufacturing, construction, energy and environmental workers.

According to the story, the letter urged Congress to promote grid investments that lessen the economic impact of electrical outages and ensure that the country’s high-voltage transmission system is productive and secure.  The publication also quoted Tom, Kiernan, CEO of AWEA, “Just like highways and bridges, transmission is infrastructure that keeps the U.S. economy moving – and growing,” he said. “Investment in new transmission lines will modernize the U.S. grid and deliver more clean energy to population centers. This investment also will help to keep the lights on and costs low for American homeowners and businesses. Recognizing transmission as essential infrastructure is another way Congress and the administration can keep promises of advancing all forms of energy while growing U.S. energy independence.”

Find the complete story online at altenergy.com

Kallanish Energy News reported, PJM, a Regional Transmission Organization (RTO), authorized funding for projects designed to offer better power supply for approximately 65 million customers, in a 13-state area including Washington, D.C. Get the whole story here.

Quanta Services, Inc. (NYSE: PWR) today announced results for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2016.  Revenues in the fourth quarter of 2016 were $2.10 billion, compared to revenues of $1.90 billion in the fourth quarter of 2015, and net income from continuing operations attributable to common stock was $88.5 million, or $0.57 per diluted share, compared to net loss from continuing operations attributable to common stock of $2.6 million, or a loss of $0.02 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2015.  As described further in the complete release, certain items favorably impacted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations for the fourth quarter of 2016 by $0.06 per share. Read all the details and register to receive alerts at Quanta’s investors page. 

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) rejected recommendations made in 2005 to make repairs to the dam that has now failed in California according to an article posted to Townhall.com. The story reports FERC has responded similarly to warnings about the electric grid. Read more here. 

The Lone Star state, with 20,321 megawatts of installed wind power capacity, is easily the nation’s leader according to a fourth-quarter market report compiled by the American Wind Energy Association. Tom Kiernan, chief executive officer of the Association said, while visiting a GM plant in Arlington, he believes wind power is a “good fit” with the President’s goals. Learn more by reading the full story from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

According to the report released last month, the solar and wind industries employ 476,000 workers, while fossil fuel companies employ 187,117 people. Read more on the story from oilprice.com.